Loom filling feeler



April 1952 K. E. SANDERSON 2,593,614

LOOM FILLING FEELER Filed Nov. 1, 1947 j' in /1a /11 f AGENT v 2,5 26 Z9 Z2, Z6

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATESQJPATENT OFFICE tim LQQM HFEELEI; Kenneth E. Sanderson or to Draper Corpbr corporation of Main 7 Application November 1947, Serial No. 783,476

pod ale, Mass, assignat on, Hopedale, Mass, a

This invention pertains to looms, and mor With the above mentioned and other and. 0b. particularly to loom filling feelers. More specif-- vious defects and disadvantages or'prlqrffilline many, the invention is a novel filling feeler of I feelers in mind, it is an object or the present inthe slip action type. i' i "vention to provide a simple, intermittently oper- Lcoms as commonly manufactured include a 's atine. si e ip i fi n fe r w i does not feeler "whichhas as function indicating iii- I suffer from the disadvantages afilictlng prior art cipient exhaustion of the filling mass on the bobfilling feelers. A further object; is to, provide an bin in the 100m shuttle, and initiation of a change termittent1y operating magnetically" actuated in loom operation upon occurrence of s h infilling feeler. An additional object iscto provide dication. The change may be initiated through}; 10 a filling feeler for looms comprising a filling feeler action of electrical means or through action of; member and a magnet acting to attract the memmechanical means such as a linkage. Filling} A ber tonormal feelin pos n l acting t 'cause friction forces for retardingztlfi'at movement.

feelers are of many types, magnetic, electrical, mechanical, slip-action, and intermittent being i; it is another object of the invention-:to-provide a a few of the broad classifications more or less well .315 slip-action filling feeler having m n P vi n known. All loom filling feelers act to determine a guideway, a single-piece filllngfe'eler member incipient filling'exhaustion by feeling or contact- If guided by the means in a displacement moveing the filling mass remaining on the operating .TI ment from an active feeling position and in a bobbin, and in most types of feelers motion of the r"eturn movement to the active *feel p si fl lay is utilized to bring the filling mass into con- 29 and magnet means acting to pro'di certhe return tact with the feeder for feeler action. In slipmovement o wi c re cegofhe pl c action types of feelers, such as the side-slipping nt nt movemen It is n h r 91 539 he i variety, incipient filling exhaustion is indicated M nt t0 prflvide a fceler ccnfoiin t the by an abnormal movement of a filling feeler eledescription in the immediately preceding object,

ment, usually a slipping of the element along a Q the; magnet means also acting 'tbcre te forces retarding the return movement of j ;'the filling bare portion of a bobbin, when the element no longer contacts with the filling mass on the bobbin. In certaintypes of weaving, as with fine or delicate filling, the repeated contacting of the filling by the feeler often results in either cutting of the filling or damage thereof to an objectionable extent. ljntermittently acting feelers were devised to lessen the number of impacts of the filling againstthe feeler element, and thus save the filling; and. other expedients were resorted to 3 with the same view in mind, such as, for example, lightening the movable parts of the feeler to reduce impact loads borne by the filling on the boberiods of activity automatically porease in frequency as incipient filling exhaustion approaches, whereby danger-of missing an indication of'inc'ipient filling exhaustion is avoided:

Q-The above and other objects that will become dent from a consideration of the whol'e of this closure are attained by the invention; a preed embodiment of which is illustrated in the 'ccompanying drawings, in which:

bin. Most feelers are provided with one or more Fig. 1' is a plan view of a feeler according to springs employed to cause return of the filling the invention, with enough loom structure to ilcontacting element of the feeler to normal posilustrate application of the inventioni-to-an ordition after each'feeling action, or to cause a filling nary loom;

exhaustion in i in movement, or both. In- I..;; Elg.'2 is a view of a portion of the structure evitably these springs, while in some types of cle 'i'icterl in Fig. 1 with certaini' d'conditions feelers acting on very light feeler members, add ssehanged, and on alarger scale; I t0 the pressure appli t he ll ng y th f e Fig. 3 is a magnified view of structure depicted A somewhat improved type of slip action feeler vinil 'ig. 1, with certain conditions altered}: was produced when a pair of magnets, one sta- 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a feeler tionary and one on the feeler member, were subcasing base and appurtenant means in partly disstituted for the usual spring. But the magnet in- 50 assembled relation; and creased the weight of the feeler member to an Fig. 5 is an isometric view of apermanent magobjectionable extent. 'Prior feelers acting on the net employed in the preferred embodiment of the intermittent-operation principle are complicated, invention. expensive, and subject to easy derangement of Only as much of conventional structure is departs and are for those reasons not in wide usage. 5.5 plated in the drawings as is necessaryflto a full V occurrence of an indication of incipient filling exhaustion by the feeler; but it will be understood that the principles of the invention are equally applicable to looms utilizing other types of'lo'omoperation change-initiating means, as, for instance, electrically operated means.

on the active bobbin only occasionally whil'ethe filling mass is still of relatively large diameter; but which increases the frequency of the feeling actions as the filling mass contacted by'the filling contacting element of the feeler decreases in diameter, until, at the point when incipient "weft exhaustion is imminent, the feeling actions ocour every time the bobbin; is broughtftoward' the feeling This: is in contradistinction to the action of other intermittently acting feelers; wherein the. frequency of the feeling'actions is fixed and invariable throughout the entire period of re mova'lof filling from a bobbin, and allows successful operationkof an intermittently actingfilling feeler without the necessity of. setting the feeler so loom-operation change Will -b8 effected with a relatively large amount of filling remaining on the bobbin. The latter setting of" previously known intermittently acting feelers was ne'cessitated'by thefact that the bobbin might otherwise become exhausted while the feeleriwas inactive.v 4

Referringto the drawings, there? is. designated generally by the numeral certain conventional loom structure at the lef.t hand'end of'theloom lay-andinclud ng a b n er I I and'front box plate I2 forming with a part" l3 of the lay end a shuttle box M into which ashuttle I5 is received and from. which the shuttle is picked by apicker: l6 in-unifor'm' or variabl cyclically repeated operations; Firmly supportedin' the shuttleis a bobbin l1 carryinga winding'or' mass of filling l8. The shuttle willin normalpperation of the loombe received in box Hl'at'the term nation of'each alternate pick and willbe moved forwardly (downwardly as-viewedinlFigs. 1, 2. and. 3).;a's th filling pick isbe'aten into the cloth. and subsequently moved rearwardly (toward the top" of the figure in Fig. 1 as the lay recedes from the fellofthe cloth. The above enumerated loomstructure and th'e indicated operation thereof areTwell known by all persons skilled :in the art" and need not'be herein further "described. Perse-theyform no part of the present'invention.

According to'the invention'th'ere is firmly supportedat its inner end, as on a convenient part of-the loom-frame (not 'sh'own'); a feeler-support in' the form of an arm having "a relatively fiat upper face-2l at its other end: the support'being bfany suitable shape and such'as to partake of -'vibration of the loom part incident'to loom operation. Mounted upon face 2| of the support as by means of a screw 22 passing through the support from the bottom thereof is afeeler base 23 of non-magnetizable material such. as brass, aluminum, or synthetic resin and having a tapped hole 24 to receive screw 22' (see Fig. 4'). Base 23' is of generally rectangularplan-form and is provided with opposed side walllportionst 25, 26 and a floor portion 21 between the side walls, these portions forming, in conjunction with a preferably transparent feelencover: 28 anopen- The inven -l tion comprehends a filling feeler which acts: tofeel or come into contact with the filling mass ended guideway. Cover 28, which may be formed of a transparent synthetic resin, may conveniently be secured to base 23 by means of a screw 29 passing through a hole formed in the cover and threaded into a suitable tapped hole 30 formed in base 23. Acting in conjunction with the above described guideway. as subsidiary guide means is aniabut'mentii fwithin the guideway and preferably but not necessarily formed as an integral portion of base 23. The guideway and abutment have functions that Will hereinafter be more fully disclosed.

- feeler'memben32 which has an active feeling po- Movably supported in the above mentioned guideway andguided therein by the structures forming'the guideway is a single element filling sition to be more specifically defined hereinafter and'which during normal loom operation partakes of' normal rectilinear reciprocatory movements comprising displacement movements from, and'return movements to, the active feeling position. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention feeler member 32 is made of ferro-magnetic material and is equipped with a tip 33 of fibrous material such-as Micarta; but it will be understood that" in equivalent constructions member 32 may be made of another material, and the tipmay alternatively be employed or omi-ttedfrom the member in either case. By the term single-element filling feeler member? as herein employd, I mean a filling feeler member having but a single part within the guideway. I

Inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention, a-depression or cavity-34 is formed below'th floor 2-1 in'bas e 23, preferably at a corner of the floor as depicted in Fig. 4, and of ashape therein'shown in, detail. Arranged in the cavity and adjustably movable therein transversely of the aforementionedguideway isa magnet means, preferably but'notnecessarily in the form of a shaped permanent magnet 35. I have found that a magnet of; Alnico No. 4, suitably charged by a magneti zing" .force ofapproximately 6000 ampere turnsnper linear. inch, and aged either by natural agingjforatleast twelve hours or artificially by means ofia demagnetizing field accomplishing an approximately-1% reduction from peak magnetization, i's suitable for the purposes of the invention; however, other suitable permanent magnet and/orelectromagnet means may be employed.

Magnet 3- 5 is formed of a shape indicated in detailjin-Fig; 5 and is. of such size as to-fit snugly incavitytfi with capability for the mentioned transverse: motion; and has shaped indentations 35-; 31- at one side thereof and an indentation 38 at'thei opposite side. Indentation 31 is of such shape and size as to =form opposed projections 39;.4flwvhich straddle abutment 3 I, and indentation 35 is of such shape and size as to receive therein an-end of. a small compression spring 4| (see Fig: 3) whose opposite end presses against abutment 3,1 and which tends to move the magnet away from the abutment. Positioning magnet 35 against the action of spring 4! is a screw 42 bearing against the magnet in indentation 38 and threadably mounted in a tapped hole 43 formed in. the side wall 25 of base 23. Suitable means suchas" a lock nut 44 may be employed to maintain screw 42' in adjusted position. The magnet preferably is so charged that its polar axis is approximately parallel with the guideway, that is, as indicated. by, the polar marks indicated on the magnet; It will be understood however, that the magnetmay be arranged withits magnetic axis transverse. to the guideway.v This becomes: desirable when the loom is to be operated at exceptionally high speeds. In either positioning of the magnet it is immaterial which is the north or the south pole.

Abutment 3! is formed to have a friction producing face 3la generally parallel with the axis of the guideway and acting to exert frictional forces on feeler member 32 when the latter is moved longitudinally along the face and drawn thereagainst by attraction exerted by magnet 35.

Feeler member 32 is preferably formed by deforming a simple rod to provide a tip end 32a laterally offset from the main longitudinal stretch or body portion 32b of the member and substantially parallel therewith, the offset being accomplished by a length 32c extending substantially at a right angle to the body portion 321). A foot 32d is formed on the feeler member by bending and reversely bending the rod as indicated in Fig, 3. Body portion 32b and foot 32d are so relatively formed and proportioned that as the reverse bend in the foot slides along wall 25, portion 32b may slide in contact with the friction face 3|a of abutment 3 I. According to the invention the feeler member is adapted to assume an active feeling position as indicated in Fig. 1, which is the rearwardmost position the member may normally assume, and in which position the foot of the member is substantially in contact with an end face of magnet 35 and tip 33 is positioned to be contacted by the filling 18 or bobbin I! as the lay and shuttle move forwardly. From this active feeling position the member may be given a displacement movement by action of the forwardly moving filling i8 and the member may subsequently be returned to this position by attractive action of magnet 35, either unaided or aided by vibration of base 23 due to vibration inherent in loom operation. Fig. 1 illustrates the relationship of the feeler parts and the filling just at the moment the filling contacts tip 33. Fig. 3 depicts an example of the relationship of the feeler parts when the member has been given a displacement movement by the filling and is undergoing return movement to active feeling position under the influence of magnet 35, the filling having moved away from tip 33. It will be noted that foot 32d is attracted by the magnet and body portion 32b is drawn or attracted by the magnet into frictional engagement with abutment 3|, the latter action creating friction forces which retard the return movement of the feeler member to active 'feelingposition. These friction forces are aided by the retarding effect of eddy currents induced in the feeler member as the latter moves in the magnetic field of the magnet. It is evident that when the filling mass on the bobbin is of maximum diameter the aforementioned displacement movement will be a maximum and consequently the time required for the return movement to active feeling position will be a maximum, the retarding force remaining substantially constant throughout the return movement; and further that asthe filling mass decreases in diameter as the filling is used, the displacement movements will decrease and consequently the time required for the return movement will decrease. The parts may be so adjusted that with the filling mass at its maximum diameter the displacement will be such that return movement of the member will require a period covering as many as eight, or even more, cycles of shuttle operation (i. e., as many as sixteen or more picks) for its completion; and so that with the filling mass diameter reduced to a point whereincipient exhaustion of the filling is imtains. 'a very smooth surface in that portion of its surminent or near at hand, the displacement will be such that return movement of the member will require a period of less than one cycle of shuttle operation (e. g., one pick) for its completion. Thus it is evident that the feeler is intermittently acting in its operation, and automatically increases the frequency of the feeling actions as the yarn mass diameter decreases, commencing with a high number of cycles of shuttle operation per feeling action when the bobbin is full and changing gradually to a detecting action for each cycle of shuttle operation shortly preceding and during occurrence of incipient filling exhaustion.

As filling exhaustion becomes imminent or near, the filling mass remaining on the bobbin is reduced until a stage of operation is reached whereat no filling remains between the bobbin and the tip of the feeler as the bobbin approaches the feeler. At this stage, only a small amount of filling remains on the bobbin and that is spaced from the line of contact with the feeler tip, and final exhaustion of the filling is incipient. At this stage a change in loom operation, such as replacement of the nearly exhausted bobbin by a full bobbin, is desirable; and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention need for such change is indicated by an abnormal lateral slipping movement of the feeler tip along the bared bobbin as indicated in Fig. 2. This slipping action occurs in the illustrated structure by virtue of the offset relationship of the tip with respect to foot 32d and body portion 32b of the feeler member and to the fact that the normal friction effect of the filling mass on the tip no longer ob- The bobbin may and desirably does have face area which could enter into contact with the feeler tip, to aid in allowing the mentioned slipping of the tip along the bobbin. The indication of incipient filling exhaustion thus given 7 by the feeler member may be variously utilized to initiate a change in loom operation. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the indication of incipient exhaustion, represented by the abnormal lateral movement of the feeler member, is utilized to move a rod 45 extending into the guideway through a hole 46 in side wall 26 of the feeler casing. Movement of this rod may be employed in any manner well known in the art to bring about the desired change in loom operation. Rod 45 and the devices brought into action thereby may be of well known construction and are not a part of the present invention, and since several forms of such devices are well known in the art none are herein further disclosed.

It will be understood that it is desirable to reduce the impact load applied to the filling when the latter contacts the feeler tip, and accordingly the feeler member is made as light as is consistent with the requirements of durability, certainty of proper performance and other obvious essentials of an operative structure. As an aid in making certain the full side-slipping movement of the feeler tip once that movement is commenced, a depression 47 is provided in side wall 25, into which depression the reverse bend of foot 32d is adapted to move as soon as side-slipping movement of the feeler tip is under way. During sideslipping movement of the tip the feeler member rotates about a shifting axis located at first near the lower right-hand corner of magnet 25 (as viewed in Fig. 2). The result of initial stages of this rotation is movement of the reverse bend of foot 32d into depression ll, whereupon the reverse bend is held against the curved face of the depression partly "through attraction of. magnet 35 but principally due to inertia forces. Thus any increased resistance to continuation of the side slipping action, as for example, that offered when rod 45 is met with by portion 32b of the feeler member, is effectively overcome.

It will be understood that the feeler member may be bounced forwardly away from the filling normal loom operation, especially when the filling mass is of large diameter. The action in this respect is much like that of a ball when struck by a bat. To prevent excessive displacement movement of the feeler member if and when this condition occurs, the feeler is provided: with a limiter preferably in the-form of a' spring blade 48 having a lateral offset 48a whose-plane is formed at a right angle to that of thebodyportion 48b of the blade; The offset is provided with an aperture whereby it is secured in a close. fitting recess formed in sidewall 26 as by means of: a-

screw 49 threaded into a complementary'tapped hole formed inthe side wall, all as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Body portionASb has a short length, approximately equal to'the lengthofoffset 43a, arranged to lie closely in contact with side wall 25, from which it sharply diverges. at

480, by a sharp bend, for a small distance toward the center of the guideway. Thence body'portion 481) extends generally parallel to-side'wall 26 for most of its length but isprovided wltha small bend or stop at 4801, shaped as showninthe figures. This bend orstop is placed ata location in body portion iib'sufiiciently far forward from offset 48a to accommodate rearwardly thereof the maximum normal operating displacement movement of the feeler member, the-stop acting to stop foot 32d of the member in those'instances wherein the feeler member partakes ofsuch maximum normal operating displacement. The

stop accordingly acts to prevent excessive displacement movements of thefeeler member, and may conveniently also act as a holder to hold the feeler member out of operation, as is sometimes desirable in loom operation. This holding action is effected when the feeler member is-manually forced forwardly by hand to the limit of its possible forward travel as determined by offset 320 contacting the'rear end of side wall 26. When so forced, the end of foot 32d compressesv the bend of spring 48 at 4811 and the reverse bend of the foot is tightly held against side wall 25, thus holding the feeler member out of operation.

By virtue of the adjustability of magnet 35 the feeler may readily and successfullybe accommodated to looms operating over a wide range of speeds, without further modification. Since a loom operating at a relatively highrate of-speed subjects its component parts and attachments to more severe vibration and vibration of a relatively high frequency, the tendency of the feeler member is to make a faster returnmovementto active feeling position subsequent to displacement therefrom. This tendency is effectively overcome by adjusting magnet 35- so it nearly contacts body portion 32b of the feeler member, whereby the friction forces betweenthat member and abutment 3| are intensified. In extremely fast-operating looms it may even. be fOllIldltO. be desirable to adjust the magnet so it actually contacts the feeler member and takes'part with or replaces abutment 3| as a guide: member. In the case of low loom operating speeds, however, vibration is much less severe andiof, lower frequency, hence magnet 35 is adjusted to remain spaced away from body portion.32'b..of. the feeler member, thereby creating reduced frictionforces andlikewise a reduced retardation of the return movement of the feeler member to active feeling position. Spring 4| acts to maintainthemagnet bearingagainst screw 42 in any of the positions of the screw. While it is convenient to'rely upon vibration incident to loom operation to intermittently vary the friction forces between abutment 3| and the feeler member, magnet 35 maybe of such strength and disposition and so adjusted as to impart the hereinabove described return movements of the member to active feeling position without the aid of such vibration.

Having fully disclosed a preferred embodi- -ment of my invention it is evident that changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art after consideration of my disclosure. Accordingly I do not desire to be limited to the specific details of the disclosed embodiment but What I claim is:

1. Aslip-action filling feeler for looms, comprising,.in combination: a feeler casing including-means forming a guideway and an abutment in the guideway; a filling feeler member having an active feeling position and guided in said guideway by said means for normal sliding dis placement movement from said position: and normal sliding 'return movement to said position and, for filling exhaustion indicating'movement abnormal with respect to said normal sliding displacement and return movements, said member Sliding by one side of said abutment in partaking of said normal movements; and a magnet havingopposite poles which are spaced, one at one sideand the other at the other side of said abutment, the opposite side of said abutment acting through certain components of the magnetic forces incident to its entire magnetic field to'attract the member against the abutment to create frictional forces'therebetween and further acting throughother components of the magnetic forces which comprise its entire magnetic field; and uponianother portionof the feeler member to attra'ct and draw said member to said activefeeling position subsequent to occurrence of any of said movements.

2. In combination" in a loom: a filling feeler support subject to vibration inherent to loom operation; a shuttle box oscillating toward and away from said support and having a' shuttle therein during certain of said oscillationsj a filiing carrying bobbin in said shuttle; a filling feelor casing fixed on said support and comprising means forming a guideway and an abutment within said guideway; a filling feeler-member having a tip and having an active feeling position wherein said tip is in the path of the bobbin in said shuttle, said member being at least partly within and guided in said guideway by said means during a displacement movement from said feeling position induced by contact between the member and thefilling on said bobbin and also so guided durin subsequent return movement to said feeling position; and'a magnet and means adjustably fixing the magnet in said casing, said magnet acting to return said member to said feeling position subsequent to displacementthereof from said position by action of said filling and bobbin and further acting during said return to draw said member against said abutment and thereby create friction forces retarding said return movement, said friction forces being intermittently varied by said vibration.

3. A side slipping filling feeler for looms, comprising the. combination of a magnetic feeler member-including an elongated, straight portion and an angularly formed guiding portion, supporting-and guiding means for said feeler member within which the said member is constrained to move to and from an active filling engaging position and to be rotated bodily upon substantial exhaustion of filling thereby to initiate replenishment,an abutment on said support positioned to guide and to friction said feeler in its movements to and from active, filling engaging position, and a magnet positioned wholly at the opposite side of said abutment from said feeler and positioned in a plane therewith, acting in one direction upon said feeler to draw the elongated, straight portion thereof against the abutment, and substantially at right angles to said one direction and upon the angularly formed guiding portion, to move ing portion at its opposite end, an abutment extending from said support and positioned so as to guide the said straight portion of the feeler in its movements to and from active, filling engaging position, and a magnet positioned at the opposite side of said abutment from said feeler and in a plane therewith so as to draw the feeler by its attraction upon the substantially straight portion thereof. into engagement with the abutment, and simultaneously by its attraction upon the angularly formed portion of the feeler, to move it toward its active, filling engaging position.

5. A side slipping filling feeler ior looms, comprising the combination of a feeler, member, supporting and guiding means for said feeler member within which the said member is constrained tomove to and from an activeifilling engaging position and to be rotated bodilyr'upon substantial exhaustion of filling thereby; to initiate replenishment, said feeler eomprisingan elongated magnetic portion, a filling contacting tip and an angularly disposed magnetic guiding portion at the end of said elongated portion'opposite said tip, an abutment extending from" said support and positioned so as to guide the-said elongated portion of the feeler in its mo ments to and from active, filling engaging pd on, and a magnet positioned at the opposite ide of the abutment from said elongated por of the feeler having opposite poles, one atio'ne-side and the other at the other side of said abutment for drawing the feeler by its attraction upon the magnetic elongated portion thereof into frictional contact with the abutment, said magnet further being of such strength and so relatively positioned with respect to the angularly disposed portion of the feeler and to the, relatively straight portion at the abutment, that is, in coaction with natural vibrational forces within the loom structure, returns the feeler to filling engaging position after a number of cyclesof operation which varies with the extent of movement of the feeler from its normal, filling engaging position.

KENNETH E. SANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES TATENTS Number Name Date 2,077,385 Arzt Apr. 20, 1937 2,317,948 Brown et a1 -Q.-- Apr. 27, 1943 

